FOOTNOTES:
[8] Told by Four-Horns.
8. THE ORIGIN OF THE AWAHO-BUNDLE PEOPLE.[9]
We were told by old people that our people came out from the ground. There were some people who came out from the ground, for there was an earthquake. Some of the people were thrown out and put upon the surface of the earth. There were some who were cut off, so there was crying, wailing, and many noises. The heavens heard, saw the people’s distress, so the heavens sent Mother-Corn to them. When she came to them, under the earth, she had a robe about her shoulders. This robe was painted red. There were upon the robe five moons and one star.
The people rejoiced when they saw Mother-Corn. She told them that she had come to lead them out from the earth; that on her robe she had had pictured the gods who had sent her and promised her help. She then turned around and spoke to the gods, asking them to make a way for the people to get on the earth. For several days the people waited, but no help came. At last a Badger came out, and said, “Mother, I will make a way for the people.” So the Badger began to dig and dug through the earth. The Sun saw the Badger come out, and said, “It is well. I will make your head black; also your fore legs, so that all people and animals will know that you are the one who dug for the people; and you shall also be a great burrower.”
The people came out from the ground, led by Mother-Corn. The people were facing west, and then they walked westward. As they went on, they came to thick timber. They stopped. Crying and wailing went up from the people. Mother-Corn lifted up her voice to heaven, but there was no help. Out from the company flew a Screech-Owl, who said, “Mother-Corn, I will make a pathway for your people.” The Owl flew through the timber, and made a pathway, so that the people could go through. The Owl and the Whirlwind are enemies. The Whirlwind left sickness, while the Owl gave roots and herbs to cure diseases.
The people went on farther, and a cry was raised,—“He is coming! He is after us!” It was a wonderful animal, known as “Cut-Nose.” This was an animal that had been a man, and he had gotten away from the people, but he was now trying to kill these people. His horns were long, and they seemed to touch the heavens. The people ran until they came to a chasm which they could not cross. Mother-Corn called on the heavens for help. The people began to cry and wail. For seven days the people stood. At last a bird came, and said, “I will do my part.” The bird flew through the bank, and came out on the other side. The Mole then came and tried, but did not succeed. Now the Badger was again called on, and he it was who made the banks to fall on each side, so that the people crossed.
After the people had crossed, there was rejoicing; but as they went on they came to another obstacle. There was wide, thick ice and deep water. Birds of every description tried to make a way for the people, but their power failed them. The birds faced the ice and water, but with no result. Up in the heavens was seen a bird that circled around until finally it flew downward and struck the waters, and it broke the ice. As it came towards the people, the bird said: “Mother-Corn, I shall make a way for your people. They shall cross this big lake and they shall continue the journey.” The Loon then dove, and wherever it went, the ice and the water were thrown far away. There was now dry land, so that the people crossed over.
The Loon spoke to Mother-Corn, and said: “This is your last obstacle. You shall meet no more.” Mother-Corn began to teach the people ceremonies and rituals, after they had crossed, even giving the people things to put in bundles. When the things were together the people went through a ceremony. Corn was lacking for Mother-Corn, and Mother-Corn herself said: “Let us wait till to-night. You shall have a Mother-Corn, and you shall wrap her in a bundle. She will hear your prayer, and she will keep you from diseases and give you plenty in your fields.” That night Mother-Corn disappeared; but under the bundle was an ear of corn wrapped in a robe that Mother-Corn had had. She had taken and washed it with sweet flowers.
As they went on they found where the other bands had camped. They picked up and ate what meat had been offered as a sacrifice to the gods.
“Awaho” means “left,” “deserted,” for this band was left, and was the last people to come out from the ground. So they were called “Awaho.”
The other bands had gone ahead a long distance. When the Awaho band reached the place where the other bands had camped, they found bits of meat that had been offered to the gods. This is the way the people secured their food.
When the Awaho people made a sacrifice of meat they took a piece off and buried it, eating what remained. The ceremony of burying the piece of meat was to teach the others that this band was at first covered up and was under the earth. These last people, the Awaho, who came out from the earth, knew all the ceremonies and taught them to the others. As they went on, these people were attacked by enemies and they were nearly all killed; but the keeper of the bundle hid it under a bank. The bundle was wrapped up with calfskin. After the people had gone into camp, the women begged that they might get the bundle. So a man went with them, and they got the bundle. A ceremony was performed to purify the contents of the bundle. A wooden bowl of water and a bundle of yellow flowers were used to cleanse the sacred objects. The flowers were dipped into the water; then they shook the flowers over the fire and dropped a few drops; then the flowers were made to touch the contents of the bundle. The people then ran down to the river and bathed. The next day sacrifices of meat were made, for now the people and the bundle were cleansed. These were the first ceremonies given by these people.
We are told by old people that Nesaru made the people; that the people were bad, and that they were destroyed. But Nesaru made some animals to take kernels of corn under the ground. These kernels had been people, and were turned to corn by Nesaru. In this way the people lived under the earth for many years. This is why the animals brought them out from the ground and why they were led, with the consent of the other gods, by Mother-Corn, who was sent by a god in the heavens, who had a field of corn.